Tacoma

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Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 70

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 70

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 70

A summary of the critical opinion for this game will be provided after release or a minimum of 15 reviews have been aggregated.

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Critic Reviews for Tacoma

Reviews

High Score - 95/100

Low Score - 50/100

Bronze TIER

45% of scored reviews fell within the range of 80 to 86 / 100

David Roberts (GamesRadar+)

4/5 stars

“While some of its threads don’t always come together as neatly as they should, Fullbright’s sophomore effort is a quiet and haunting examination of the ways corporations dehumanize us all.”

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Andy Kelly (PC Gamer)

84/100

“A smart and thoughtful science fiction mystery featuring a cast of believable, nuanced characters.”

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Heather Alexandra (Kotaku)

Recommended

“Tacoma ultimately succeeds as a piece of emotional storytelling. Every moment spent with the crew is spellbinding, as their strengths and struggles play out in painful detail. The experience is sometimes frustrating, but Tacoma leaves a lasting impression.”

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**Read all 70 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (70 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
3DNews	Александр Бабулин	8 / 10	08-11-2017	Tacoma is a game of hope. Fullbright showed that they are able not only to look into the past with nostalgia, but also instill optimism in our future. Well, this is a rarity in our time, what with all the disturbing news and bad premonitions. Here, space is also a premonition, but a rather bright one.	Read review
Atomix	Alberto Desfassiaux	82 / 100	08-01-2017	Tacoma is a great narrative driven game that puts you in the middle of a mysterious space station. From the creators of Gone Home, this a Sci-Fi experience that you should check out.	Read review
AusGamers	Kosta Andreadis	7.9 / 10	08-10-2017	Tacoma shines where it counts, and that is with the story it tells and the feeling that each character within it feels real.	Read review
CGMagazine	Jed Whitaker	9 / 10	08-07-2017	A diverse narrative-driven space adventure for people wanting actual emotions and relationships in their games; that is Tacoma.	Read review
COGconnected	Erin Soares	77 / 100	08-09-2017	Although Tacoma is short, it does a fantastic job telling the stories of the different characters throughout the game, using the non-sequential AR memory recordings to build emotional ties to each.	Read review
Critical Hit	Alessandro Barbosa	8.5 / 10	08-01-2017	Tacoma is a captivating tale that messes with established tropes in a way that Fullbright might become known for. Although it spins its wheels at the start, this slow and methodical journey through the lives of a small group survivors is one with some fantastic twists and turns, and one that should stick with you long after its conclusion.	Read review
Destructoid	Raymond Porreca	9 / 10	08-01-2017	Tacoma gives players a masterfully crafted setting and encourages them to find out what made the people who once called it home tick. Life, even among the stars, can be mundane and familiar but Tacoma's presentation is nothing short of spectacular.	Read review
Digiato	Nima Farshin	60 / 100	10-04-2017	As a whole, Tacoma is a mediocre experience. it could be a successful VR game, but it cannot repeat the unalloyed experience of Gone Home.	Read review
Digital Chumps	Eric Layman	8 / 10	08-01-2017	An abandoned space station, impetuous corporate interests, a curious A.I. — Tacoma's facade floats between charming futurism and abrasive, old-fashioned avarice. This may seem like inhospitable space to explore the depths of benevolence, but the power of identity and humanity are alive and well supported inside of Tacoma's twirling science fiction architecture.	Read review
Digitally Downloaded	Harvard L.	4 / 5 stars	08-09-2017	What Fullbright has delivered is rich, affecting storytelling that's truly worth experiencing.	Read review
DualShockers	Lou Contaldi	7.5 / 10	05-08-2018	Tacoma‘s three-hour span was a delightful experience, and I can see myself booting it up once or twice more to comb through the space station. And while this game cements Fullbright as a leading voice in the storytelling, first-person-experience genre, it showcases that both the genre itself and the sophomore developer still has some growing to do before we see masterpieces. For all those who can settle for less-than-perfect, Tacoma is a sci-fi tale worth playing.	Read review
Eurogamer	Edwin Evans-Thirlwell	Recommended	08-01-2017	A short, sweet, slightly dissatisfying translation of Gone Home's cosy environmental storytelling into the realm of speculative fiction.	Read review
Explosion Network	Dylan Blight	7 / 10	08-03-2017	Exploring and learning about Tacoma's world and the crew is a lot of fun. I was always interested to learn more; to turn over every object in someone's room, to pilfer someone locker, to judge their book collection. This is the heart of Tacoma. Fullbright succeeds in what it did so well in Gone Home again, with some fantastic writing and environmental storytelling.	Read review
Game Informer	Elise Favis	8.3 / 10	08-01-2017	Tacoma tells a gripping story about mortality and relationships that makes it a worthwhile experience	Read review
Game Rant	Dalton Cooper	3 / 5 stars	08-08-2017	Tacoma, the second game from Gone Home studio Fullbright, presents an intriguing narrative that is bogged down by some glaring technical issues	Read review
Gameblog	Angel Davila	7 / 10	08-12-2017	Tacoma is a rightful heir to Gone Home. Exploration of the station, with the possibility to learn about the crew through holographic projections, makes us feel we are in a very lively place and the main story, that wants us to think about capitalism and I.A.'s future is captivating, even thought the experience is quite short.	Read review
GameCrate	Justin Woo	7.5 / 10	08-07-2017	Tacoma tells a compelling story with a disappointing conclusion.	Read review
GameGrin	Andrew Duncan	9.5 / 10	08-01-2017	If you want a great story told well, that will last an afternoon, then get Tacoma. It knows what it wants to be, and it does that perfectly.	Read review
GameMAG	xtr	8 / 10	08-07-2017	Tacoma is a beautiful, albeit graphically ascetic, game for fans of the "Walking Simulator" genre and interesting stories, which requires your attention when exploring the environment, listening to dialogue and viewing electronic correspondence. However, it is well translated into Russian, so you'll need just a desire to know the secret of the space station and enough perseverance. And that's not a problem for the project, which takes just two hours from start to finish.	Read review
GamePitt	Rob Pitt	9 / 10	05-07-2018	Tacoma is a carefully put together piece of art in the narrative-story driven genre of games. The team at Fullbright have taken everything they learnt from Gone Home and improved on everything from the pacing to the delivery of the story, only without such an emotional ending this time. The majority of your time will be investigating spirit-like reconstructions as you look into the crew members lives and create a bond with each of these people who are no longer aboard the ship. Tacoma isn't a long game, but it's a game which will stick with you and make you want to go back for more, even if it's just to listen to the director's commentary.	Read review
Gameplanet	Baz Macdonald	8 / 10	08-16-2017	Tacoma's augmented reality cast allow it to tell its engaging story in a unique way. It's a slow burn of a game that deftly interrogates interpersonal relationships in an engaging sci-fi setting.	Read review
GamePro	Rae Grimm	73 / 100	08-01-2017	Tacoma is a playable science fiction film with exciting ideas, but it is flat in terms of gameplay and emotion.	Read review
Gamerheadquarters	Jason Stettner	6.7 / 10	08-03-2017	I did enjoy Tacoma, it was a compelling story though short and I felt as though it had the potential to be expanded upon.	Read review
Gamers Heroes	Casey Scheld	5 / 10	08-07-2017	Tacoma tries to tell a tale in a unique way, but does not quite achieve its vision. The disconnect between the player and the characters, along with the short length, make it a hard sell for fans of walking simulators.	Read review
GameSkinny	ActionJ4ck	6 / 10	08-04-2017	Tacoma puts forth a well-crafted and fleshed out world with a narrative that can't pull its weight.	Read review
GameSpew	Kim Snaith	8 / 10	08-01-2017	Tacoma is a beautifully told story filled with real characters and real emotion that you won't be able to put down until you've experienced it in full.	Read review
GameSpot	Kallie Plagge	7 / 10	08-01-2017	Tacoma tells a story that is made compelling by a well-written and -acted cast of characters, but it's just short of being truly satisfying.	Read review
GamesRadar+	David Roberts	4 / 5 stars	08-01-2017	While some of its threads don't always come together as neatly as they should, Fullbright's sophomore effort is a quiet and haunting examination of the ways corporations dehumanize us all.	Read review
GamingBolt	Ravi Sinha	8 / 10	08-01-2017	Rather than big and bombastic, Tacoma is small and personal, inviting you to be involved. It's a strong testament to the power of visual narration and characterization possible in today's video games despite some nit-picks here and there.	Read review
GamingTrend	Hunter Wolfe	75 / 100	08-05-2017	If you've played games like Gone Home, Dear Esther or Firewatch, Tacoma is instantly recognizable, but it remains distinct by introducing a wildly exotic space setting and a mechanic that keeps the "look and listen gameplay" from ever becoming a bore.	Read review
GBAtemp	Alex McAuliffe	9 / 10	08-01-2017	Fullbright proves that they have mastered interactive storytelling by delivering a uniquely absorbing experience in Tacoma. Allowing players to explore as much or as little as they want perfectly complements the amazing cast of characters and beautiful environments. While it may be short, Tacoma is one of the most unique games I've played this year.	Read review
Geeks Under Grace	Joe Morgan	7.7 / 10	08-28-2017	Tacoma tells an engaging tale with memorable characters. Exploring the abandoned station and reliving pivotal moments alongside the crew has become an experience I won't soon forget.	Read review
God is a Geek	Chris White	9.5 / 10	08-01-2017	If you're a big believer in great storytelling in video games, Fullbright has once again nailed it, proving it can be done, and it can be done to the highest standard.	Read review
Guardian	Jordan Erica Webber	4 / 5 stars	08-01-2017	The makers of indie cult favourite Gone Home have created a linear sci-fi title set in 2088 that feels satisfyingly lived in and free from stereotypes	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Kyle LeClair	4 / 5 stars	08-04-2017	Tacoma doesn't match the excellence of Gone Home in the story department, but nonetheless manages to provide a quick yet engaging adventure.	Read review
IGN	Miranda Sanchez	8.5 / 10	08-01-2017	Tacoma successfully overcomes the challenge of featuring eight characters and making them all interesting in a relatively short game. Using the out-of-sequence AR recordings to learn about the exciting events on Tacoma is a unique way to see every side of a conversation, and it's one I hope to see catch on. I would have appreciated more time and events that'd have given me a reason to explore more of the beautiful station, but the time I did have in this fascinating hypothetical future was great.	Read review
IGN Italy	Alessandra Borgonovo	8 / 10	08-03-2017	Fullbright brings a fascinating hypotetical future, featuring eight characters and making them all interesting in a short time.	Read review
IGN Spain	Albert Manjón	8.5 / 10	05-08-2018	Although Tacoma has a less emotive story than Gone Home The Fullbright Company has created a very interesting game. Their approach to humans relations is one of the best in the medium	Read review
Impulsegamer	Tony Smith	4 / 5 stars	08-13-2017	Tacoma developer Fullbright should be commended on creating a very original game and given they were responsible for Gone Home, it's great to see them using this premise and adding another layer of complexity with some very clever story telling.	Read review
Kotaku	Heather Alexandra	Recommended	09-12-2017	Tacoma ultimately succeeds as a piece of emotional storytelling. Every moment spent with the crew is spellbinding, as their strengths and struggles play out in painful detail. The experience is sometimes frustrating, but Tacoma leaves a lasting impression.	Read review
LevelUp	Guillermo Navarrete	8 / 10	08-07-2017	Tacoma is not for everyone. Even if you like this sort of game, we should warn you that it lasts only about 5 hours. Now, as brief as it is, the experience is also pretty satisfying. You will hardly find any good reason to play it more than once but if you are willing to commit with the story, you will surely enjoy it.	Read review
Metro GameCentral	GameCentral	6 / 10	08-01-2017	A disappointing follow-up to Gone Home that tells a less interesting and less focused tale, while failing to advance the art of interactive storytelling.	Read review
New Game Network	Josh Hinke	72 / 100	08-06-2017	The lean gameplay and mechanics don't gel with the unfocused narrative, and it's a singular flaw that Tacoma can't overcome. There's plenty to like in the game, but it struggles to find a cohesive theme that brings the experience together.	Read review
NZGamer	Keith Milburn	9 / 10	08-01-2017	Tacoma makes you feel like a digital detective, as you trace the threads of a broad social web of relationships and motivations.	Read review
Oyungezer Online	Utku Çakır	7.8 / 10	08-16-2017	Gamers who want to get in the "Walking Simulator" genre but don't just want to play an interactive movie shouldn't miss this one.	Read review
Pardis Game	Seyyed Mohammad Reza Mojab	7.5 / 10	08-17-2017	Tacoma cannot be called a revolutionary or a very impactful game, but among the similar titles, it offers decent quality that will entertain you for about 2-3 hours with its interesting story. but it will cost you 20 bucks. So if you're of the adventurous type, be sure not to miss Tacoma.	Read review
Paste Magazine	Holly Green	9.5 / 10	08-01-2017	My sole criticism is its length. Given how tied up I was in the suspense, Tacoma's short play time seemed almost merciful, but I would have liked to have spent more time with each of the characters (even the AI, Odin), or get a more thorough exploration of the game's intriguing conclusion. That being said, Tacoma is remarkable and I look forward to the impact it will have on narrative devices in videogames.	Read review
PC Gamer	Andy Kelly	84 / 100	08-01-2017	A smart and thoughtful science fiction mystery featuring a cast of believable, nuanced characters.	Read review
PlayStation Universe	Timothy Nunes	7.5 / 10	05-08-2018	Tacoma has a heart all its own, exploring a myriad of themes and advocating for the human condition, but the branches that sprout from the tree rarely bear fruit. Still, the growth is wonderful, even without that sweet taste you so long for.	Read review
Polygon	Allegra Frank	7 / 10	08-01-2017	I continue to think of Tacoma as a story first, but it's more than that, clearly: It's an interactive experience, and that plays for and against it. The story is built out of the playback mechanic, which gives birth to the subtler suggestions of what's really going on with this station. But the playback system means there's a lot of talking to listen to, and a lot of wireframes to stare at. For a game about an abandoned space station, Tacoma gave me plenty of company. But the moments where I had to reckon with being alone in space were the ones that stuck with me.	Read review
Post Arcade (National Post)	Chad Sapieha	8.5 / 10	08-01-2017	The Fullbright Company's sophomore adventure comes up shy in emotional resonance, but is still an interactive sci-fi story well worth taking in	Read review
Press Start	Brodie Gibbons	8 / 10	08-14-2017	Fullbright captured lightning in a bottle with Gone Home, and I began Tacoma wondering whether they could hold onto it, as rare as that is. Thankfully, they did. The core mechanics are simple, yet they make sense within the game's world. Most importantly, they do not over-complicate matters. It allowed us to take in another magnificent Fullbright narrative.	Read review
PSX Brasil	Francisco Maia	80 / 100	05-09-2018	The Tacoma space station hides a special and enigmatic story, which can be shallow or deep, according to the player's investment. There is limited interactivity, typical of recent adventures, but the great storytelling will not leave the user bored. It is brief, without delays, just as it should be, but perhaps not a satisfying investment for those looking for many hours of entertainment. Tacoma is worth it, especially for the surprises that the final moments of the game reserve.	Read review
Push Square	Alex Stinton	8 / 10	05-08-2018	With Gone Home representing a key moment in gaming, Tacoma had plenty of potential to suffer from so called "second album syndrome". While it never manages to hit the same emotional highs – or lows – as its predecessor, it still stands out from the crowd, mainly through the implementation of some nicely interactive AR scenes to deliver its key story moments. While there are certainly other complaints you could level at Tacoma – such as its rigid linearity and how it occasionally falls into genre clichés – these can be easily forgotten as developer Fullbright once again proves where its strengths lie: with down-to-earth characters and thought-provoking storytelling.	Read review
Rock, Paper, Shotgun	Philippa Warr	Recommended	08-01-2017	As with Fullbright's previous game, Gone Home, Tacoma won't be for everyone, but it's a masterclass in environmental and gradual storytelling. It weaves an intriguing story against the backdrop of a believable near-future culture.	Read review
Shacknews	Ozzie Mejia	6 / 10	08-08-2017	Tacoma lays the foundation for a truly great story, but a short length and some unexplored ideas leave it feeling lacking.	Read review
Slant Magazine	Justin Clark	3.5 / 5 stars	08-01-2017	Tacoma is a master class in the art of giving you the tools to experience a fascinating place through others' eyes.	Read review
SpazioGames	Gianluca Arena	8 / 10	05-13-2018	The story, the characters and the dialogue of Tacoma demostrate the evolution of Fullbright. The interaction system and the complete control over the story is interesting, while the mid-sections are dull and boring.	Read review
TechnoBuffalo	Eric Frederiksen	3 / 5 stars	08-13-2017	Tacoma is worth the time I spent with it, even if it isn't the same holy-crap-what-did-I-just-play experience provided by Gone Home.	Read review
TechRaptor	Joey Thurmond	8 / 10	08-01-2017	While some may find Tacoma's length and lack of gameplay depth off-putting, it still manages to feel full in itself. A grounded, futuristic setting serves as Fullbright's most creative stage yet for thorough environmental storytelling that shines with an ordinary yet endearingly authentic cast of characters.	Read review
Telegraph	Tom Hoggins	3 / 5 stars	08-07-2017	As you step aboard the lunar station Tacoma, magnetic boots thunking to the metallic floor, you would be forgiven for a sense of deja vu.	Read review
The Jimquisition	Jim Sterling	Recommended	05-09-2018	Tacoma is Fullbright's latest interactive drama. It's in space and it's pretty okay, 10/10.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Dave Irwin	7 / 10	08-02-2017	Tacoma has some great characterisation and is a very different breed of science fiction, but my enjoyment was sapped by one key mistake in how the story was told. It also has issues with loading and can be somewhat bland to look at, but looking around you, the environmental storytelling is top-notch. By the end, I'd become invested in these characters, but not necessarily their plight.	Read review
TheXboxHub	Gareth Brierley	4 / 5 stars	08-11-2017	Tacoma is a high quality walking sim that tells a brilliant story of hope, whilst delivering complex and interesting characters.	Read review
Twinfinite	Chris Jecks	4 / 5 stars	08-01-2017	If you're looking for sci-fi action and alien blasting, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you're in the market for a fascinating narrative and an intriguing space station to lose yourself in, you could do a heck of a lot worse than Tacoma.	Read review
USgamer	Caty McCarthy	3.5 / 5 stars	08-01-2017	It's rare to see game worlds as intricately detailed as the one in the space station of Tacoma. Even with its mostly lackluster characters and a story that never quite sinks its hooks into you, it's a spacecation you'll want to make time for. Hell, in what other game can I set up and play a game of billiards by myself as panicked digital ghosts worry about their livelihood? None, really.	Read review
VideoGamer	Alice Bell	8 / 10	08-02-2017	Tacoma is a quiet, lovely, yet slightly melancholy exploration of humanity struggling in a corporate vacuum, and one that proves Fullbright still has an eye for detail.	Read review
Washington Post	Christopher Byrd	Recommended	08-02-2017	"Tacoma's" core appeal comes from watching the characters behave differently as they move between areas and interact with each other.	Read review
We Got This Covered	Jordan Hurst	3 / 5 stars	08-01-2017	Tacoma's top-notch story and presentation are arranged into an inappropriate structure that will dull the experience, even for fans of exploration games.	Read review

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

Tacoma is a sci-fi narrative adventure set aboard a high-tech space station in the year 2088. Explore every detail of how the station’s crew lived and worked, finding the clues that add up to a gripping story of trust, fear, and resolve in the face of disaster. From the creators of Gone Home.

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